Inverted Buck tang

[garddogg56]

On a 102 woodsman with leather spacers.what year do I have here? Thanx Bob One thing ,the blade is longer than my three line 102 and has more of a sweeping profile.OR MAYBE it not a Woodsman at all

[btrwtr]

It's a either a 5" 105 Pathfinder or 4 1/2" 118 Personal. 1968 or earlier. What is the blade length?

[garddogg56]

She is 4.5inches.I didn't know the 118 was that short.Doe that take the 105 out of contention?

[Old Hunter]

Definitely a Buck 118. Early knives have lots of variance due to lots of handwork by the craftsmen. Nice piece Dogg, very nice! OH

[garddogg56]

Thanx OH She'll see lots of belt time this fall

[Old Hunter]

Dogg, are you sure those are leather spacers? Usually leather spacers are much thicker than the ones on your knife - they appear to be red micarta, darkened with age. The one I own looks much like yours - this one is 1/16" shy of 4-1/2" and has red spacers darkened with age. OH
Ps The previous owner sent it to the Buck Spa, great investment of $6.95 - gleams like a new one.

[bertl]

Here is my guess. I think the spacers are hard fiber. If that is the original sheath, I would date the knife as about 1964-1967. Micarta spacers didn't start until about 1969. The flapover sheath started in 1964. At some time in 1967, the tang stamp changed from "Buck" to "Buck*" and then in 1968 became "Buck/USA".

Bert

[garddogg56]

Thats a beauty OH it may be red marcata but the color is brown,I'd send her in but she's going to see lots of woods time my102 just doesn't do it for me and the 121 will be used for meat processing this 118 may fill a void thanks Bert we believe the sheath too be original.